10.28.2009

I've been asked by a needlework distributor to think about starting a "Stitching Club"...

This is uncharted (no pun intended) waters for me

&

I'd like to get some input (good or bad)

from my blog friends.

The stitching club would involve a membership. You would join the club (becoming a member) at your local needlework shop or favorite online shop. By joining you are committing to purchase each cross stitch pattern in the series. You will be charged at the time the new pattern is released. These patterns will be available to members only. At sign up time you will see the first pattern of the series and know the "theme" of the club. The remaining patterns will come to you as a surprise!

Here is where I have some questions...

1. Would you like this to be a quarterly club or a bi-monthly club (meaning 4 patterns or 6 patterns in the series)?

2. What month would be best suited for you for the club to begin? Do you want it to begin in the summer months or the winter months?

3. What has been your experience in joining this sort of club? Good or bad comments welcome!

4. How many such clubs are you currently a member of?

Any comments are welcome & greatly appreciated! Please note that all comments to this post will be kept private.

10.22.2009

Our little getaway is taking us to Lanesboro, MN. Lanesboro is the B&B capital of Minnesota. We are staying at the Berwood Hill Inn. I'm looking forward to their 5 course breakfast...sounds overwhelming to someone who usually misses the most important meal of the day! The Berwood Hill Inn is a country Victorian home that sits on 200 plus acres of rolling hills that overlook a hardwood valley. The leaves are supposed to be at peak so I am hopeful there will be a lot of photo opportunities...I'll have my camera in hand!

Lanesboro was chosen as a top "prettiest cities" in the U.S. on both Yahoo.com and Forbes Traveler.com lists for 2009. Another city on this list is Guttenberg, Iowa and we will be swinging through there on our way to Lanesboro. Guttenberg sits on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.

We have had a week of rain and cold dreary weather...hoping for a warm up for the weekend!

"RUDOLPH & CO."Sweet Huck branches make perfect little antlers for this tree ornament. A tiny french knot works perfectly for Rudolph's nose...just love the simplicity of this guy!

"FRENCH HEN"Inspiration for this design comes from the olde favorite Christmas carol, 12 days of Christmas. This pleasingly plump French hen has various holiday motifs stitched upon her body. Old sheet music for tail feathers and wings gives the French Hen a nice olde-time look. In keeping with the French theme, Merry Christmas is spelled out in French!

I call these "day project" patterns...You can easily finish one of these in a day!Got to love that!

Line bottom and sides of a 9" x 5" loaf pan with waxed paper or plastic food wrap. Set aside.

Combine butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg, orange extract and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking soda. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds. Press one-third of white dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Place another one-third of dough back into same bowl. Add small amount of orange food color; mix until color is well blended. Press orange dough evenly over white dough in pan. Place remaining one-third of dough into another medium bowl. Add small amount of yellow food color; mix until color is well blended. Press yellow dough evenly over orange dough in pan. Cover with plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).

J.M. Gardner 1888 - antique reproduction

13 NEW COLORS OF WOOL FELT!

Cat on a Tin Roof

Antique Sampler Brooches!

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Translator

Time to stitch!

Floss Keeps

Meet Martha Tipton 1853!

Ann DIckinson 1819

Another antique reproduction chart

Ann Sandles - 1846

an antique reproduction

Mansion House at Fox Hollow

an antique reproduction chart

Gift Certificates

Give a Country Stitches Gift Certificate!

Beautiful Vintage Seam-tape Ribbon

Click on photo to view all the colors!

We are a major supplier of the Valdani 3 strand floss!

Works beautifully for punch needle embroidery. Our floss prices are some of the best prices on the internet!

Whatever thy hand findest to do, do it with all thy heart.

What our customers are saying...

Nan says,
"I just had to tell you that I got the 2 cross stitch patterns that I purchased and they are the most thorough and well put together patterns I have ever purchased from a designer. You should be very proud of the quality. Thank you so much. It is nice to purchase a pattern and know it is worth every penny."

Ruthe says,
I love your graphs...of all of the designers (and there are many)..your graphs are the easiest to read and create...
I thank you.

Vikki says,
I just have to tell you, I love your designs!! Your patterns are so clear and concise, so easy to understand. All my completed pieces look lovely!

Mary Ellen says...
Good Morning! I recieved my order the other day, and I can't figure out what to do first. Your stitch charts are the best I have seen. Thank you!